Southern Gothic Americana Album The In Between
The In Between, the highly anticipated seventh studio album from Southern Gothic Americana juggernauts Heathen Apostles, arrives on Friday, July 5th via Ratchet Blade Records. Recorded in a furious creative haze during the early months of 2024, The In Between lives up to its moniker both literally and figuratively; straddling the line in between darkness and light, personal and political, and the concrete past and the unknown future. Check the album out HERE.
Masterfully produced by Chopper Franklin, the album features nine original songs that spin an enchanting spider web of bluegrass, murderfolk, gothic, and spaghetti western influences (with a ethereal cover of the late Mark Lanegan’s “The Gravedigger’s Song” rounding out the tracks to an even ten.) And yet, despite the album’s diversity, The In Between proves to be one of the band’s most cohesive sonic explorations of what Americana music can (and frankly, should) be, all while continuing to develop the band’s intricate musical arrangements and memorable, introspective lyrics. Coupled with eerie postmortem cover portraits painted by lauded fine artist Sean Cheetham, The In Between is sure to rank among the year’s top releases within the Americana underground.
Speaking to the album’s title and corresponding opening track, singer Mather Louth states, “The idea of the ‘in between’ is all about learning to sit with- and eventually befriend- the uncomfortable times of not knowing what is coming next, either within one’s own life or within the collective. Uncertainty is a very ungrounding sensation, and the emotions that arise from that discomfort can be challenging to navigate. Exploring this sense of uncertainty proved cathartic for me, and I hope it will offer that same release for listeners.”
Their previous 6 albums – Boot Hill Hymnal (2013), Fire to the Fuse (2015), Requiem For a Remix (2016), Bloodgrass Vol. 1 & 2 (2018), Dust To Dust (2019) and Bloodgrass Vol. 3 & 4 (2022) – along with their many EPs and singles (their release The Fall was named Best EP of 2018 by Folk n Rock magazine), capture the essence of the Heathen Apostles modus operandi: Southern Gothic Americana imagery surrounded by haunting, minor-chord melodies, a myriad of musical influences including Gothic Roots, Bluegrass, Blues, and Gypsy Jazz, all deftly bound together by the band’s dark and sometimes brooding sense of a bygone age.
Chopper’s New Spaghetti Western Dub Song
The Blood, Tears and Thunder DUB song is the second single from Chopper Franklin’s “Spaghetti Western Dub No.1”, the upcoming album out 1/26/24 on Ratchet Blade Records. The lyric video uses clips from the spaghetti westerns “If You Meet Sartana Pray For Your Death” (1968) and “Death Rides a Horse” (1967, both in the public domain.) It also features news clips displaying the violence between the PNP (whose leader was Michael Manley) and the JLP (led by Reagan-stooge Edward Seaga, who had ordered the 1976 assassination attempt on Bob Marley) both during, and after, the contentious 1980 Jamaican elections.
“This is well worth a look if you have any interest in Spaghetti Music and or Dub. Chopper Franklin’s latest project is a combination of the two so as far as I’m concerned it can’t go far wrong. The single is great and the production is top notch, I can’t wait for the rest of it …Brilliant.” Spaghetti Western Daily
In the spirit of The Clash, Bad Brains’ and Public Image Limited’s brews of reggae and punk, Franklin takes his original Spaghetti Western compositions and remixes them with the deep, bass-heavy rhythms and echo-drenched soundscapes of Dub. The album features vocals by Mather Louth and the Phantom of the Black Hills.
Chopper Franklin’s Spaghetti Western Dub Music
The Heathen Apostles’ Chopper Franklin’s “The Scorpion Says DUB” is the first single from the album “Spaghetti Western Dub No. 1” (out January 26, 2024 on Ratchet Blade Records). It’s groundbreaking Spaghetti Western Dub music that fuses the vast, arid landscapes of Spaghetti Western music and the heavy rhythms of Dub Reggae. You can listen and download HERE, and watch the lyric video HERE.
In the spirit of The Clash, Bad Brains’ and Public Image Limited’s brews of reggae and punk, Franklin takes his original Spaghetti Western compositions and remixes them with the deep, bass-heavy, echo-drenched soundscapes of Dub.
In a world where music can often feel predictable, Chopper Franklin’s upcoming album offers a refreshing departure from the ordinary. Known for his relentless energy and innovation, Chopper has played with legendary bands and artists (The Cramps, Wanda Jackson, Nick Curran), as well as creating his own projects, often pushing the boundaries of musical genres. “Spaghetti Western Dub No. 1” also features the epic vocals of Chopper’s bandmate Mather Louth (Heathen Apostles) and Ratchet Blade Records labelmate the Phantom of the Black Hills (hillbilly/thrash outlaws). They’ve sang on genre-bending songs like “The Scorpion Says Dub” (the album’s first single), “Blood, Tears and Thunder Dub” (a tale of a good man forced into an outlaw gang) and “The Ghost of a Believer Dub” (a story of a good romance gone bad) that transcend boundaries and invites listeners on an unforgettable journey.
The “Spaghetti Western Dub No. 1” album will be released on Ratchet Blade Records, a label known for its dedication to unique and innovative music. With an impressive roster of artists who push boundaries and challenge expectations, Ratchet Blade Records is the perfect platform for this innovative musical experiment.
Chopper Franklin to Release Spaghetti Western Dub Album
From the Ratchet Blade Records “Spaghetti Western Dub No. 1” press release: Get ready to embark on a sonic journey like no other as rock & roll veteran Chopper Franklin is set to release “Spaghetti Western Dub No. 1”, a groundbreaking album that fuses the vast, arid landscapes of Spaghetti Western music and the deep rhythms of Dub Reggae. The single “The Scorpion Says DUB” will be out 11/17/23 and the album will have a January 2024 release date date.
In the spirit of the Clash, Bad Brains and Public Image Limited’s mash up of reggae and punk, Franklin takes his own original Spaghetti Western compositions and remixes them with the bass-heavy rhythms and echo-drenched soundscapes of Dub. This fusion of styles is something you’ve never heard before, and it’s all coming from Ratchet Blade Records on Nov. 17th.
In a world where music can often feel predictable, Chopper Franklin’s upcoming album offers a refreshing departure from the ordinary. Known for his relentless energy and innovation, Chopper has played with legendary bands and artists (The Cramps, Wanda Jackson, Nick Curran), as well as creating his own projects, often pushing the boundaries of musical genres. “Spaghetti Western Dub No. 1” also features the epic vocals of Chopper’s Ratchet Blade Records labelmates Mather Louth (Heathen Apostles) and the Phantom of the Black Hills (hillbilly/thrash outlaws). They’ve sang on genre-bending songs like “The Scorpion Says Dub” (the album’s first single, out 11/17/23), “Blood, Tears and Thunder Dub” (a tale of a good man forced into an outlaw gang) and “The Ghost of a Believer Dub” (a story of a good romance gone bad) that transcend boundaries and invites listeners on an unforgettable journey.
The new Chopper Franklin album will be released in January 2024, and “The Scorpion Says Dub” single will be released Nov. 17th on Ratchet Blade Records, a label known for its dedication to unique and innovative music. With an impressive roster of artists who push boundaries and challenge expectations, Ratchet Blade Records is the perfect platform for this musical experiment.
“Deaths Head” Gothic Americana Video Review
Recently Nashville DJ Eric Clark posted a “REACTS” video of the Heathen Apostles song (and Gothic Americana video for) “Death’s Head”. For the band, it’s always interesting to hear mainstream media’s take (he reviews Ryan Bingham and Oliver Anthony in the same batch) on what they do. While Eric definitely gets it, some don’t; it’s absolutely not for everybody. And that’s just the way they want it.
Death’s Head is the first of the Heathen Apostles videos from the Fire to the Fuse album, to preview and purchase it click HERE, on iTunes click HERE, for Amazon click HERE.
Directed by the Heathen Apostles
Director of Photography, Still Photography: Lawrence Drayton
Makeup by Alexi Petre
Wardrobe: Cheri Wilson Chagollan, Mather Louth
Snake Handler: Peggy Rivera
Death’s Head written by Louth/Franklin
Produced & mixed by Chopper Franklin at the Devil’s Doghouse, Echo Park, Ca.
© 2015 Ratchet Blade Records
Ratchet Blade Records Offers Shipping Savings on CD Orders
The Heathen Apostles and Ratchet Blade Records are aware of the insane International shipping charges and and have worked with their on-demand supplier to bring a cost efficient CD to international fans. They are offering a jewel case edition of all Heathen Apostles albums, complete with a full color 2 panel insert, back cover and disc. These are shipping straight from the manufacturer so they ship separately from any other items in your order, but if you want these albums with just $6 shipping (as opposed to $17+ shipping for the digipak editions) this is the way to go. The CD orders also include a full digital download of the album. The albums that are a part of this deal are (click HERE to order):
BOOT HILL HYMNAL – “The Heathen Apostles’ debut release, Boot Hill Hymnal, seeks to answer a question posed long ago by Blind Willie Johnson- just what is the soul of a man? (…Or, as the case may be here, a woman with a thousand-yard stare.) The resulting collection of songs is complex, catchy, and wholly cohesive to the Apostles’ ghost town.”
FIRE TO THE FUSE – “The Roots of Heathen Apostles has a dark current that roars through dense gothic tales surround by mountain music, back alley Jazz, murderous Americana, and bone-chilling Folk. The latest release from Heathen Apostles, Fire to the Fuse, lights the primeval blackness of the tales.”
REQUIEM FOR A REMIX – “Heathen Apostles remix album Requiem For A Remix features remixes by Chopper Franklin, Almighty Watching and the Phantom of the Black Hills, also a cover of the Echo & the Bunnymen classic The Killing Moon, as well as a Mather Louth demo of Boot Hill Hymnal‘s The Dark Pines.”
BLOODGRASS VOL. I & II – “A full-length which combines the band’s Bloodgrass EPs, marks a significant point in the evolution of their sound. Call their sound what you will – gothic Americana, folk noir, doom country – but it cannot be denied that it successfully fuses the styles of bygone eras with those of today’s fringe music.”
DUST TO DUST – “With their iconic blend of Gothic aesthetics and Americana influences, Heathen Apostles set out to create a sound that’s easy to describe as one-of-a-kind. The group’s music is as charismatic as the band’s lush dark aesthetics, bringing a cinematic edge to their sound.”
BLOODGRASS VOL. 3 & 4 – “This release fully respects the good tradition of Bloodgrass – as in the two previous numbered releases, it contains all the most colorful both in terms of genre and in terms of creativity by Heathen Apostles. The only thing that distinguishes the third part is a slight melancholy, sadness and thoughtfulness – but those are the times we are in.”
Bloodgrass Vol. 3 & 4 – New Gothic Western Collection Out Today
2020 was a year of loss, reflection, and reevaluation. Trying as the times were to have a trio of tour cancellations both stateside and abroad as the live music industry seemingly evaporated overnight, the Heathen Apostles did not let the unexpected gift of time go to waste. To the contrary, the band channeled the turbulent year’s events and its complex emotions into their music, and the result- BLOODGRASS VOL. 3 & 4– is a Gothic Western collection of songs at once timely as they are timeless.
The album opener “Bad Patch” uses the lyrical analogy of the 1930s Dust Bowl to express the collective desperation brought about by feeling at the mercy of the sort of devastation best described as an “act of God”. “Careful What You Pray For” touches upon the hypocrisy of self-righteous religious dogma and the damage it inevitably brings in its wake. “Black Hawk” moves the album in an introspective direction as Louth sings a tale of transformation by shedding the darkness in order to welcome in the light. As the title suggests, “Demi Monde” offers a return to the occult imagery the band has incorporated since its inception, while subtly paying homage to the fires of Beltane. “Tall Rider” closes the EP on a cathartically optimistic note, plaintively serving as a reminder of the possibility to heal through love.
The foot stomping single “Roots Run Deep” casts a lyrical spell in its own right, reminding the listener of the divine within. “Into The Wild” is a primal, incendiary runaway train filled with plenty of snarl and swagger. “Solitary” is an embrace of following one’s own path in life, no matter how lonely the road may seem at times. “No Peace” was written in response to the victims of countless cases of police brutality in recent history that have yet to receive justice for the crimes committed against them. “Shadow Of The Crows” offers an intriguing hybrid of several genres, mixing Middle Eastern and borderline psychedelic sounds with the band’s distinctly gloomy bloodgrass. You can check out this Gothic Western collection HERE.
Gothic Bluegrass Album Cover and Release Dates
The Heathen Apostles are proud to release the cover art for their upcoming 10 song gothic bluegrass album Bloodgrass Vol. 3 & 4 (on Ratchet Blade Records). The artwork was done by their good friend Stephanie Inagaki, who also did the cover art for the previous Bloodgrass Vol. 1 & 2 album and EPs.
The online release date for the album is Friday the 13th of May, and the international street date for brick and mortar is Friday June 3rd. The album will also be available from the band on their upcoming European tour, which starts May 26th in Henglo, The Netherlands.
From the Heathen Apostles’ Bloodgrass Vol. 3 & 4 press release:
2020 was a year of loss, reflection, and reevaluation. Trying as the times were to have a trio of tour cancellations both stateside and abroad as the live music industry seemingly evaporated overnight, the Heathen Apostles did not let the unexpected gift of time go to waste. To the contrary, the band channeled the turbulent year’s events and its complex emotions into their music, and the result- BLOODGRASS VOL. 3&4- is a gothic bluegrass album of a collection of songs at once timely as they are timeless.
Track listing:
1. Bad Patch
2. Careful What You Pray For
3. Black Hawk
4. Demi Monde
5. Tall Rider
6. Roots Run Deep
7. Into the Wild
8. No Peace
9. Solitary
10. Shadow of the Crows
“Bloodgrass Vol. 3” – Dark Country EP Out Today
2020 was a year of loss, reflection, and reevaluation. Trying as the times were to have a trio of tour cancellations both stateside and abroad as the live music industry seemingly evaporated overnight, the Heathen Apostles did not let the unexpected gift of time go to waste. To the contrary, the band channeled the turbulent year’s events and its complex emotions into their music, and the result- the dark country EP BLOODGRASS VOL. 3 (out now on Ratchet Blade Records) – is a collection of songs at once timely as they are timeless.
The EP opener “Bad Patch” uses the lyrical analogy of the 1930s Dust Bowl to express the collective desperation brought about by feeling at the mercy of the sort of devastation best described as an “act of God”. “Careful What You Pray For” touches upon the hypocrisy of self-righteous religious dogma and the damage it inevitably brings in its wake. “Black Hawk” moves the album in an introspective direction as Louth sings a tale of transformation by shedding the darkness in order to welcome in the light. As the title suggests, “Demi Monde” offers a return to the occult imagery the band has incorporated since its inception, while subtly paying homage to the fires of Beltane. Lastly, “Tall Rider” closes the EP on a cathartically optimistic note, plaintively serving as a reminder of the possibility to heal through love.
Check out the EP HERE.
HEATHEN APOSTLES 2021 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
02/09/2021 Thursday – Kulturrampe, Krefeld, Germany
03/09/2021 Friday – Alter Open Air Stage, Mannheim, Germany
04/09/2021 Saturday – Ballonfabrik, Augsburg, Germany
05/09/2021 Sunday – Private Show, France
06/09/2021 Monday – l’Usine Switzerland Genève
07/09/2021 Tuesday – Spazio 211, Torino, Italy
08/09/2021 Wednesday – Brasserie de Framont, Grandfontaine, France
09/09/2021 Thursday – Willemeen, Arnhem, The Netherlands
10/09/2021 Friday – La Bonne Idée, Vresse-sur-Semois, Belgium
11/09/2021 Saturday – CC Muze, Zolder, Belgium
12/09/2021 Sunday – The Grand Canyon, Nazareth, Belgium
13/09/2021 Monday – Titanic, Herenthout, Belgium
14/09/2021 Tuesday – Far-West Bar, Liege, Belgium
15/09/2021 Wednesday – The Shakespeare Pub, Herdecke, Germany
16/09/2021 Thursday – Indra Club 64, Hamburg, Germany
17/09/2021 Friday – Wild At Heart, Berlin, Germany
New Gothic Western Soundtrack EP “The Goodbye Family”
The Heathen Apostles have teamed up with Lorin Morgan-Richards to release a Gothic Western soundtrack EP for his animated series The Goodbye Family. The Goodbye Family EP consists of 3 Heathen Apostles songs featured in the first Gothic Western animated series The Goodbye Family, originated by author Lorin Morgan-Richards from his comic series of the same name. You can listen to this Gothic Western soundtrack EP by clicking HERE.
“Sew It Up” (the series’ theme) is a gypsy-infused, up tempo hoedown of a tune, and on “Get Outta Dodge” lead vocalist Mather Louth channels Patsy and Dolly while singing the woes of an Old West dancehall singer. The release is finished off by “Lake of Fire”, an instrumental worthy to be placed in any collection of Spaghetti Western soundtrack songs. The EP was produced and mixed by Chopper Franklin, and released on Ratchet Blade Records.
Meanwhile the band is back to finishing up their Bloodgrass Vol. III EP (out 8/27) before their September European tour, which starts on September 2nd in Krefeld, Germany.
Heathen Apostles September Bloodgrass Music 2021 tour:
02/09/2021 Thursday – Kulturrampe Germany Krefeld
03/09/2021 Friday – Alter Open Air Stage Germany Mannheim
04/09/2021 Saturday – City Club Germany Augsburg
05/09/2021 Sunday – Private Event, FR
06/09/2021 Monday – l’Usine Switzerland Genève
7/09/2021 Tuesday – BlahBlah Italy Torino
08/09/2021 Wednesday – Brasserie de Framont, Grandfontaine, FR
09/09/2021 Thursday – Willemeen The Netherlands Arnhem
10/09/2021 Friday – La Bonne Idee, Vresse, BE
11/09/2021 Saturday – CC Muze Belgium Zolder
12/09/2021 Sunday – The Grand Canyon Belgium Nazareth
13/09/2021 Monday – Titanic, Herenthout, BE
14/09/2021 Tuesday – Tortuga Germany Unna
15/09/2021 Wednesday – Bei Chez Heinz Germany Hannover
16/09/2021 Thursday – Monkeys Germany Hamburg
17/09/2021 Friday – Wild At Heart Germany Berlin
18/09/2021 Saturday – Sonic Ballroom Germany Köln
19/09/2021 Sunday – BUSKERfestival Belgium Aarschot
Heathen Apostles – Heavy Western Video Debut
The Heathen Apostles have debuted the second Heavy Western video from their live EP Prayers Before The Plague, out on Ratchet Blade Records. It was recorded live at their headquarters The Devil’s Doghouse in Echo Park, Ca. during quarantine for the COVID 19 pandemic, and shortly after announcing the postponement of their 2020 European and West Coast tours. The European tour is being rebooked, click HERE to contact Rootstown Bookings for booking info and tour dates.
An announcement about the Death’s Head video straight from the band:
“Today is the debut of our live video for “Death’s Head”, the perfect soundtrack for your Devil’s Night! It is from our upcoming EP “Prayers Before The Plague” out Halloween (tomorrow!) on Ratchet Blade Records. Today is the last day for the $4 pre sale, and a sincere thank you to all that have pre ordered this release so far, your support in these trying times means the world to us. Check it out by clicking HERE.”
Heathen Apostles New Live Gothic Western EP
The Heathen Apostles have had to postpone one US tour and one European tour (as well as several shows) this year due to COVID 19. The European tours have been rescheduled for May/June and September 2021, and in the meantime the band are pleased to announce the release of their new Gothic Western EP Prayers Before The Plague, out this Halloween on Ratchet Blade Records. The songs were recorded, and filmed, live at the band’s headquarters/compound/home The Devil’s Doghouse in Echo Park, Ca., and it is produced and mixed by Chopper Franklin. While nothing can replicate playing in front of a fanatical audience, they really poured themselves into these songs.
The Heathens will be releasing four videos from the performance, the first (Without A Trace) coming out today, October 23rd, which is also when Ratchet Blade Records launches the pre sale. You can preview and pre order the EP HERE.
“It would mean a lot to us it if you could check it out and help support the band any way you can as we complete Bloodgrass Vol. III and finish booking these tours. We always appreciate when you spend your hard-earned cash to join us on this dark journey, especially now, as we realize times are tougher than usual,” the bands says.
Prayers Before The Plague
1. Without A Trace (Live)
2. Death’s Head (Live)
3. Drowned In Trouble (Live)
4. Two For The Road (Live)
5. The Reckoning (Live)
6. Paint The Stars (Live)
Heathen Apostles Beginning Work on ‘Heavy Country’ Bloodgrass Vol. III
The Heathen Apostles are beginning work on Bloodgrass Vol. III, the third volume in their series of their take on gothic bluegrass, heavy country and dark roots. The band hopes to have the project completed before their September 2020 European tour, but will release a single from it if the EP is not completed. The sessions are being recorded both under quarantine and through remote recordings, and will be released on Ratchet Blade Records. Both Bloodgrass Vol. I (released in 2017) and Bloodgrass Vol. II (released in 2018) EPs were later combined for the full length Bloodgrass Vol. I & II, released in 2019 on LP and CD.
James G. Carlson wrote of Bloodgrass Vol. I & II in No Depression:
“Bloodgrass Vol. II & II opens with the Apostles’ dark, creeping rendition of Gershwin and Heyward’s classic “Summertime.” “Death Came a Ridin’,” a Heathen Apostles original, is a macabre piece dedicated to the reaper, with Louth employing a storytelling style of lyrical conveyance. “Dark Days” somehow manages to successfully marry gloomy folk with gypsy jazz, and features some of Louth’s best vocal work on the album. “Lady in Gold” is an energetic gothic country offering, while “Deadly Nightshade” is an ominous picker with a simple but nicely punctuating beat. “Paint the Stars,” an easy standout on this album, kicks off with lively violin, guitar strumming, and steady beat, and then incorporates a powerful vocal performance by Louth. Other covers include heavy country versions of “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” (Darrell Scott), “Ramblin’ Man” (Hank Williams), and “Shady Grove” (traditional). “D.O.A.” has a roots rock feel to it, while the closer, “Fever Jane,” another easy standout, is a moody picker with darkly beautiful vocals.”
Check back for more details on this EP release.
“Born By Lightning” Gothic Blues EP Out Today
Born By Lightning, the follow-up to the fifth Heathen Apostles album Dust to Dust, contains 5 new songs that explore yet another facet of Gothic Americana: gothic blues. Available digitally everywhere today on Ratchet Blade Records, the EP presents tried-and-true musical territory with the title track and the jangly “Devil Comes For All Of Us”, while expanding on the Heathen sound with a trio of hard-hitting sonic lightning bolts: “Death Bell Blues”, “Chosen One”, and “Scarecrow Blues”.
Whereas Dust to Dust put the bluegrass of Bill Monroe into the woodshed with the gothic tendencies of Siouxsie & the Banshees, Born By Lightning slinks and slithers to the beat of the blues, with plenty of shouts, hollers, and heavy slide guitar. Singer Mather Louth explains: “My identity as a singer has always been deeply rooted in the blues, and Chopper and I knew for some time that we wanted to delve into the genre (since it is very much a part of American roots music and thus under the collective roof of Americana.) But being the Heathen Apostles, we had to bring things to the dark side, and I feel that Born By Lightning manages to marry our signature Gothic Americana sound with the blues in a way that feels natural.”
Guitarist/Producer Chopper Franklin adds: “We’ve been waiting to do a blues-based record for a while, and we’re very proud of Born By Lightning. I remember seeing The Gun Club back when they were playing small clubs in Los Angeles and that dark, haunting sound was what we were going for with Born By Lightning.”
The first single, “Death Bell Blues” (a tribute to band favorite, the legendary Howlin’ Wolf) opens the EP, inviting the listener to toe the murky waters of the Heathens’ blues as a narrative of the impending Apocalypse unfolds. “Chosen One” serves up a more demented and modern interpretation of the genre, pushing boundaries as it forewarns the folly of religious zealotry. The brooding “Born By Lightning” marks the halfway point, churning with the discomforts of facing one’s own shadow, as the subsequent “Devil Comes For All Of Us” brings the tempo back up to a gallop with the Devil blazing a path of indiscriminate death and destruction. The EP closes with the scorching murder ballad “Scarecrow Blues”, a tale of vindictive townsfolk taking fire to the home of a social misfit, only to burn the entire town to the ground.
The Heathen Apostles have always been defined by a balance between experimentation and reverence, and with Born By Lightning (their third release this year alone), the band offers up a powerful and focused new collection of songs to their already impressive hymnal.
You can preview and purchase Born by Lightning HERE.
‘Born By Lightning’ EP Cover Art Revealed
The Heathen Apostles are proud to reveal the cover art for their newest release, the 5 song EP Born By Lightning, which will be out online Friday November 15th on Ratchet Blade Records. In keeping with their Gothic Americana roots they have gone in a heavy dark blues direction on this one, with plenty of shouts, hollers and slide guitar, and per usual it has been produced by guitarist Chopper Franklin. Born By Lightning will be available at the Heathen Apostles webstore and all digital outlets, and the band will be shooting some music videos to accompany it.
“Dust To Dust” – New Western Goth Album Out Today
Gothic Americana is a genre that is fast taking hold around the world, in that it combines the sub-genres of Western Goth, dark blues and depression-era jazz. The Heathen Apostles were amongst the first to inject all three into their incendiary music.
Their fifth album Dust To Dust opens with the aptly named (and surprisingly danceable) incendiary stomper Burn It To The Ground, and doesn’t let up from there. The Heathens keep one foot firmly planted in driving heavy gothic numbers with Home Sweet Holmes (a recount of America’s first serial killer) and One True Belief (featuring eerie Middle Eastern-esque flourishes). 
With Dust To Dust, the band continues to explore the boundaries of Gothic Americana: the jangly Bad Seeds-esque Two For The Road, a spooky Southern Gothic dirge reinvention of the classic In the Pines, and the lamentful Paradise Lost (written for the victims of last year’s wildfires.) And since no future classic would be complete without an anthem, the Heathens offer up the soaring spaghetti western Rise. As an added bonus, the album concludes with the entire The Fall EP, which was selected by Folk N’ Rock Magazine as the EP of the Year for 2018. You can check out the album HERE.
“I truly dove in head-first on this album, building complex and layered vocal harmonies as a complement to the musical arrangements. Just as the best movies inspire multiple viewings, I sought to create melodies that invite the listener back to hear more and more of the song unfold. With Dust To Dust, we dug the grave a little deeper sonically, but we think you’ll enjoy falling in.” Mather Louth, vocalist.
“After our last album, the decidedly rootsy Bloodgrass Vol. I & II, we chose this album to showcase all of our influences; gothic rock, bluegrass, dark country, cowpunk… and much more.” Chopper Franklin, guitarist and producer.
Pre-Sale Launches For Americana Goth Album “Dust To Dust”
The pre-sale has launched for the new Heathen Apostles album Dust To Dust, out online on June 7th (and in stores worldwide on July 12th). The album is a great blend of their Americana Goth music, combining the gothic club stomper Burn It To The Ground alongside the spaghetti western scorcher Rise and the poignant Paradise Lost (released earlier this year to benefit the California wildfire victims).
The pre-sales are a copy of the CD, a Heathen Apostles Logo T Shirt and a large Deathrider sticker for $15, and a CD and Deathrider sticker for $10. Both packages will ship as soon as the CDs arrive from the factory, and the T Shirt bundle will end as the shirt sizes run out. So check it out now, you can visit the band’s webstore by clicking HERE.
“Dust To Dust” Album Cover – Southern Gothic Artwork
The Heathen Apostles are proud to reveal the cover art for their fifth album Dust To Dust, which will be released online Friday June 7th on Ratchet Blade Records. The cover art was conceived and designed by our own Mather Louth, and it it only seems fitting that this Southern Gothic artwork should be unveiled on Good Friday. Dust To Dust will be available on the Heathen Apostles’ webstore and all digital outlets, and will also be sold at all 33 shows on their upcoming European tour (which runs from June 13th through July 14th) and in brick and mortar stores in July. Check back with us here at the Heathen Apostles website for more release info and updates on the new music videos the band is working on.
Heathen Apostles Benefit Song “Paradise Lost” For The Victims Of California Wildfires
Heathen Apostles Benefit Song “Paradise Lost” For The Victims Of California Wildfires With Regime Music Group (Buy Links at Bottom)
Los Angeles based Gothic Americana outfit Heathen Apostles have released their new single “Paradise Lost” in conjunction with Regime Music Group across all digital platforms. All proceeds from the song will be donated to programs that support the victims of the California wildfires, including rebuilding efforts and animal rescue efforts. The members of Heathen Apostles and some of the staff members from Regime Music Group were directly affected by the deadly wildfires that spread through Malibu and surrounding areas where thousands of people lost property, businesses and nearly two million acres of land burned.
“Paradise Lost is a requiem to those that lost in the fire and also to those that were lost in the fire. Seeing the utter devastation in Paradise and the simultaneous Woolsey fire on television back in November struck a deep nerve within me, and instantaneously, I found myself crying. It was a very primal emotion, that of a crushing sense of loss, and it was overwhelming,” said Heathen Apostles lead vocalist Mather Louth.
She continues, “I had the images of the destruction burned into my dreams night after night, and it was from the combination of those nightmares and countless conversations with friends and colleagues whose lives were forever changed by the fires that the song was written.”
Speaking about the label partnership with Regime Music Group for the release of the song, Louth said, “We are incredibly humbled and grateful to have Kevin Zinger and his amazing team at Regime Management selflessly partner with us in our efforts. We are all working to make this release a success for the sake of the victims, and we hope that Paradise Lost will offer them a safe place to grieve for their losses while offering support and strength in the face of extreme adversity.”
Since their formation in 2013, the Heathen Apostles have branded the hide of alternative roots music forever with their incendiary bloodgrass music, releasing four full-length albums and a string of gothic western music videos (three of their most popular videos- “Death’s Head”, “The Reckoning”, and “Dark Was The Night”, have garnered 17K, 16K and 15K views respectively.) The latest Heathen release, “The Fall”, was just named EP of the Year by Folk N Rock. In 2018, the Heathens completed a successful tour of Northern Europe- including an explosive appearance at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air- proving that their unique music cannot be pigeonholed. The Heathen Apostles have already confirmed over a dozen dates in Europe throughout June and July of 2019 and will be touring in support of their forthcoming fifth studio album.
Buy links:
iTunes click HERE
Amazon mp3 click HERE
Spotify click HERE
Heathen Apostles on Death Roots Syndicate Compilation
The Heathen Apostles song “Death Came a-Ridin'” is on tenth installment of the Death Roots Syndicate compilation that has been released today. Death Roots Syndicate is a Free Digital Download label specializing in the promotion of Underground Music including but not limited to Country, Folk, Blues, Rock, Punk and Roots Music. The compilation contains 36 songs and the artists also include James Hunnicutt, SS Web and Bobby Dickson.
Download / Stream…
Bandcamp:
https://deathrootssyndicate.bandcamp.com
Internet Archive:
http://archive.org/details/deathrootssyndicate
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DeathRootsSyndicate
“Paradise Lost” Single to Benefit California Wildfire Relief
This coming February, the Heathen Apostles will be releasing a new single called “Paradise Lost” that will benefit California Wildfire relief efforts. We are working with Kevin Zinger of Regime Music Group and the release date is March 1st, and in light of the Trump Administration’s recent threat to withhold FEMA funds from the disaster-stricken areas of California, Texas and Puerto Rico (as well as other areas of the country), we want to do what we can to help the many volunteers who are striving to get life for those effected back to normal.
Check back for more info, in the meantime help spread the word about what is going on.
“Paradise Lost” cover photo by Dina Douglass.
Heathen Apostles Gothic Americana EP “The Fall” Out Now
Happy Halloween! The new Heathen Apostles Gothic Americana EP “The Fall” is out today, it will be a great addition to your Halloween playlist. To preview and purchase, click HERE.
iTunes click HERE.
Amazon mp3 click HERE.
Spotify click HERE.
Here’s the press release from Ratchet Blade Records:
With the new Heathen Apostles’ EP The Fall (Ratchet Blade Records) the band finds themselves once again returning to the darker realms of Gothic Americana. While touring Europe in support of their last album Bloodgrass Vol. 1 & 2 (a decidedly more rootsy collection of songs), the Heathens found inspiration standing in the shadows of centuries-old castles, and listening to the stories of historical characters immortalized in the murder ballads they have always loved. Out of this experience came the epic string orchestrations of Through the Forest, Through the Trees, the alluring poetry of The Fall and thoughts of love in the afterlife in Out of the Ground.
“With regards to Through the Forest, Through the Trees,” says lead vocalist Mather Louth, “I penned the tale of a scorned lover in the spirit of the traditional Scottish and English Child ballads. It was particularly enjoyable and exciting for me to enhance the song’s gorgeously haunting orchestration with layers of a sort of timeless chamber-styled vocal I hadn’t yet explored within the band. I can say with full confidence that Through the Forest, Through the Trees is one of my absolute favorite Heathen tales to date.”
“While we may feel our music heading in one extreme direction or another while we are recording it, it always seems to end up sounding like a Heathen Apostles song. The Fall EP definitely has its Gothic tendencies, but it belongs right beside any of our bluegrass or gypsy jazz-tinged songs,” states guitarist and producer Chopper Franklin.
If there is such a thing in the current fringe roots genre as a supergroup, it would certainly be the Los Angeles-based dark roots and gothic country band Heathen Apostles, whose participating artists include ex-members of Radio Noir (Mather Louth), The Cramps (Chopper Franklin), Kings of Nuthin’ (Thomas Lorioux), and Christian Death (Stevyn Grey) in its ranks. That is one hell of a lineup. – James G. Carlson, No Depression Magazine
Heathen Apostles’ “The Fall” EP $1 Pre Sale Has Launched
Ratchet Blade Records has launched the $1 Pre Sale for the Heathen Apostles’ “The Fall”, the new 3 song EP that will be released on Halloween. Upon purchasing the Pre Sale you will receive an immediate download of the Gothic epic Through the Forest, Through the Trees, and you’ll receive the entire EP on Halloween day. The EP was produced by Chopper Franklin and features cover art by Ana Sanchez. Click HERE to preview and order.
Cover Art For Heathen Apostles’ “The Fall” EP Revealed
The cover art for the upcoming Heathen Apostles’ “The Fall” EP has been revealed, it features a painting by fine artist Ana Sanchez. The three song “The Fall” EP will be released on Halloween day on Ratchet Blade Records, and the band is playing a release show at the Redwood Bar (in downtown Los Angeles) on Friday November 2nd. Check back for listening links and purchase info.
